Brake.



V. LANCIA.

BRAKE.

APPLICATION r1150 MAR. 23. 1914. 1,171,526. Patented Feb. 15,1916.

7 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

V. LANCIA.

BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1914.

1,171,526. Patented Feb. 15,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Fig.2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

VINCENZO LANCIA,

OF TURIN, ITALY.

BRAKE.

. Application filed March 23,

invention, by employing for pressing the ass blocks on the drum, a linked chain which, having one end connected to the brake rod, enables the blocks to be pressed uniformly against the drum.

A construction according to this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows an elevation of a complete brake, Fig. 2 shows a corresponding plan.

As will be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the drum 1 of the brake is surrounded by two blocks 2, each pivoted at 3 to a fixed support which .may be, as illustrated, in the speed gear case 4, and a shackle or bracket 5 is provided normally controlled by spring 6. The shackle 5 is used for guiding the chain, so as to prevent shifting.

On the outer circumference of the two blocks 2 there is arranged, along the complete circumference, a link chain 7 connected at one end to the brake rod 9 operated directly by the brake control mechanism (rod 9' etc.) and the other end is suitably secured to a suitable rod connected to the gear box 4.

Opposite the joint of the two blocks, the portion of the chain can be replaced by a strap or turnbuckle 12 which can beadjusted by a hand wheel 13 normally held locked by a helical spring 14.

WVhen the brake is being applied, the rod 9 exercises on the chain 7 a tension which is transmitted as a pressure on the blocks 2, which pressure is uniformly distributed over the whole of their circumference, owing to the flexibility of the chain itself, so that the drum 1 is compressed on the whole of its circumference, and not only at a few points as frequently happens when the blocks are pressed against the drum by rods which favor such a deformation of the blocks that they come only into partial contact with the drum. Owing, however, to the direction of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916. 1914. Serial No. 826,?67. a

rotation of the drum 1 (see the arrow), it is obvious thatthe left hand block 2 always Works under unfavorable conditions. more particularly at its upper end 2. On the other hand, if the chain is attached at one end to a fixed point, it cannot move on the block which is at that side, so that the action of the said block is very limited, more particularly as the direction in which the chain would move is opposite to that required for strongly and gradually pressing the blocks against the drum. To that effect, one end of the chain is connected for instance by a rod 15 to the end of an arm 12 of a lever mounted on a pivot 13' on a bracket 11, the other arm 14 of the said lever being pivoted to the end of theright hand block 2.

'It will be seen that, by exercising a tension on the chain 7 by means of the lever 9, the said tension will be transmitted to the rod 15 and thus produce a rotation of the lever 1 2, 14, about its pivot 13, so that a pull will be exercised on the right hand 4 block 2 in the same direction as the rotation of the drum 1, which will improve the braking effect. In any case,'.when it is desired to release the brake, it is sufficient to release the chain 7, as the springs 6, (3 will move the blocks away from the surface of the drum. In this case also the chain 7 is interrupted in accordance with the pivoting of the blocks 2, and its two adjacent ends are connected together by a turnbuckle 12 which, by the operation of the handle 13 subjected to the action of the spring 14, enables the total length of thechain 7 to be regulated at will.

In this system, the brake blocks must act on the drum with the whole of their surface, so that the braking is more uniform, and the parts wear out less. 7

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a band brake for motor cars, a drum, two blocks pivoted at fixed points and .adapted to press against the surface of the two blocks pivoted at fixed points and adapted to press against the surface of the drum, means for keeping the said blocks normally away from the drum, a chain surrounding the blocks, a lever pivoted at a fixed point and one arm of which is connected to one end of the chain, while the other arm is pivoted to the free end of the corresponding block, and means for exercising a pull on the other end of the chain 3" two subscribing witnesses.

V INCEXZO LANCIA Vitnesses CARLO Tommy, MARIE Tommy. 

